Jim McMahon: The Rebel who almost became one

By Ron Kantowski

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008 | 2:25 p.m.

NOW:

Here's something you may or may not know -- Jim McMahon almost wound up playing college football for UNLV instead of BYU.

McMahon had been recruited by big schools such as Nebraska and California but after taking a recruiting trip to Las Vegas, he told his dad he was going to play football for the Rebels.

"I told him he was full of (it)," said his father, Jim McMahon Sr., who lives on the golf course in Mesquite and wants BYU to admit his son into its athletic Hall of Fame and to retire his jersey number 9.

In his autobiography, Jim McMahon wrote: "Finally, it came down to the day of decision. There were three coaches over at our house in Roy (Utah). One from Nevada-Las Vegas, one from Utah State, one from Brigham Young. Each of them thought he was the one. I had to declare, and I did. 'I think I'll be a Cougar,' I said. I was going to Brigham Young, on a full ride. My parents were elated.

"I often wonder if that was the last time I made them really happy."

Jim McMahon Sr., was delighted when I brought up UNLV's stunning 45-41 victory over No. 8-rated BYU in 1981 -- not because the Cougars lost, but that I remembered Jimmy, which is what he still calls his son, didn't play because he was injured.

Some rube named Steve Young took his place.

I told Jim McMahon's dad that the guy who threw the winning touchdown pass, Sam King, is my insurance agent and was a heck of a college quarterback in his own right.

"Well, if Jimmy had gone to UNLV," he said. "Your guy would have been his backup."

THEN:

Jim McMahon on his former BYU teammate Dan "Pluto" Plater, who had a brain tumor and was the inspiration behind the headband the Chicago Bears' quarterback wore in Super Bowl XX:

"He was this skinny freshman from Reno, Nev., always laughing and joking. Dan was a Mormon, like most of the other students at BYU. But the difference was, Pluto was normal."